Donors make a difference
by Kelly Stone
More than 120 scholarships and grants, valued at almost $590,000, were presented to disadvantaged students and those with outstanding academic ability by corporate and individual donors on May 27.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Peter Høj said the annual Scholarships and Grants Ceremony was a great opportunity to acknowledge the generous support of donors to the UniSA Foundation and specific scholarship fundraising programs.
"The ceremony gave donors the chance to see what an enormous difference their generous support can make to the lives and careers of others," Prof Høj said.
"Education is one of our most valuable assets. The ceremony also celebrates the relationships between UniSA and our corporate and private donors who share our commitment to access and excellence in education.
"Through their generosity and support, we are able to provide many disadvantaged students and those with outstanding academic ability with the chance to fulfil their academic dreams."
Nursing student Wendy Barth received the Gavin Wanganeen Indigenous Scholarship, valued at $5000 a year.
"I’m really pleased to receive the Gavin Wanganeen Scholarship, because it will help me financially with text books and travelling for practical training," she said. "I’m also a big fan of Gavin, which my friends like to stir me up about, so I couldn’t wait to meet him."
Barth is in the second year of her three-year nursing degree, which she is doing externally. She started her working career as a pharmacy assistant aged 17, has worked in home care and aged care, and holds a Certificate III in Aged Care and a Diploma of Enrolled Nursing from TAFE SA, as well as certificates in mental health and blood pathology.
"I’ve always wanted to be a nurse but I’ve taken the long way around because I was worried about how hard the study would be and I was scared of failing," she said.
"I’m glad I did it this way though because it has given me better experience and I’ve learned a great deal along the way."